Strain-applying apparatus.



J. G. B. WOOD.

STRAIN APPLYING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 2o. 1913.'

1,127,841. Patented Feb.2,1915.

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THE NoRRls PETERS C0.. PHOTG-LITHD.. WASHINGIUN. D. C.

J. C. B. WOOD.

STRAIN APPLYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.j20. 191s.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

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'HE MORRIS PETERS Cov, PHOTO-LITHO WASHING rON, D. c,

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JOHN IB. WOOD, F HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA. er

STRAIN-firmware APPARATUS.

Liemeer.

Application filed October 20J 1913- To all whom tt may concern; Y

Be it known that I, JOHN C. B. Woon, citizen of the United States,residing at Huntington, in the county of' Cabell and State of vVestVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Strain-Applying Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for applying strain tomembers or structures, more particularly Vto the strand wires of fences,but which may be applied to other purposes without material strueturalchange, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction andincrease the eliciency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructeddevice of this character which may be actuated from either side or bothsides at the same time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructeddevice of this character which may be erected in any desired position toapply strain to various objects or devices from any desired point orlocation. y l

1With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described andthen specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawingsillustrative of the preferred embodiment of the inven: tion. A

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved; device, arranged to applystrain to the strand. wires of a fence. Fig. 2 is a side elevation'Vpartly in section of the parts shown in'Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail viewof the forward portion of the main frame. Fig. 4 isa detail view of therear portion of the main frame. Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating aslight modification in the construction. Fig. 6 is a view illustratingthe use of the device for drawing an automobile from a soft place in theroadway. Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of the brace employedwhen the device is applied as in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detachedperspective view of the holding member employed when the device isapplied as in Fig.v 6. Fig, 9 is an enlarged view of a post engaginghook which may be employed with the improved device.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the follovfingldescription and indicated i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten nea. e, isis.

Serial NDg 796,319.

in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The Vimproved device comprises a main base frame preferably formedwith acurved terminal 10 and side members 11-12. diverging from the curved endand with a transverse intermediate member or brace 13. rlhe terminals ofthe side members 11-12 are pointed, as shown, to enable them to formseats for themselves in the object against which the device issupported, as for instance a fence post 14e. The curved terminal 10 isprovided with a seat or pocket 15, while the brace member 13 is providedwith a similar pocket or socket 1G. rlhe curved terminal 10 and thetransverse member 13 are coupled by a longitudinal web 17. Extendingbeyond the curved terminal l0 is a projection 18 having a central notch19, the projection and its notch operating tp receive the links of achain, as hereafter explained.

The framesthus far described is preferably formed from a singlecastingof malleable iron, steel or the like, and will be preferably constructedX-shaped transversely to secure the maximum of strength with the minimumof weight.

The web 17 is provided withbearing apertures QO-Ql while the bracemember 18 is provided with bearings .Q2-23 to receive pawls 2e-25, theobject ofV the latter to be hereafter explained.

Seated ,by its ends in the socketsy -1` is a combined guard andsupporting member 26, the ends of the member 2G ,engaging in the socketsand firmly supported by the side walls of the same. The member 26 isbolted or otherwise secured at 2?.-28 respectively in the sockets 15-16.By this arrangement the side walls of the sockets firmly support themember 26 from lateral or longitudinal movement and thus relieve thefastening devices 27-28 from shearing strains.

JThe member 26 is provided with a bearing 29 which is located inalinement with the bearing QQ, and likewise provided` with a bearing 30which is located in alinement with the bearing 21. The member 2G ispreferably formed T-shaped transversely to reduce the weight withoutdecreasing the strength.

The improved device may be arranged to employ achain or a cable, as maybe preferred, for the pulling member. and in Figs. 1" and 2 'a chainpulley 81 is shown as the medium for supporting the pulling member,while in Fig. 5 a cable drum 32 is shown in place of the chain wheel 31.The only difference required in the frame to adapt it to either thechain wheel or the drum is to in crease the size of the member 26 asillus trated in Fig. 5. The chain wheel 31 or the cable drum 32 isprovided at one end with a journal 33 which engages in the bearing 29 ofthemember 26, and likewise provided with a journal 34 which engages inthe bear ing 20. The journal 34 is provided with a square or irregularportion 35 upon which a correspondingly shaped bearing36 of a gear wheel37 engages. The chain wheel 31, the bearings 33-34 and the irregularshaped portion 35 are all formed in one casting, preferably malleableiron or steel, while the gear 37 together with its bearing 36 islikewise formed in a single casting. i

The irregular formed portion 35 is preferably slightly tapered, whilethe bearing 36 is correspondingly tapered so that the gear 37 fits uponthe irregular shaped bearing and all looseness thereby prevented. Bythis arrangement when the member 26 is located in position and the pullmember with its journal and irregular portion mounted for rotationtherein, the gear 37 will be irmly coupled to the pull member androtated therewith, and requires no other fastening means to support theparts in position.

Mounted for rotation through the bearings 21-30 are the journals 3839 ofa pinion 40, the latter engaging with the gear 37 as shown. The journal33 is extended and formed square, as shown at 41, while the journal 3S)is formed with a similar square extension 42, the extensions designed toreceive the operating handle whereby the motion is imparted to the gear37 and the pull member 31 or 32, as the case may be. The pawls 24-25, asshown in Fig. 1, are designed to engage with the teeth of the gear 37and thus lock the latter in position. By this arrangement it will benoted that the gears may be rotated in either direction by simplyreversing the motion of the operating member upon the terminals 41-42,and by employing the two pawls whatever strain may be secured will beheld no matter in which direction the gear 37 may be rotated. By thissimple means the improved device is formed reversible in action bysimply providing an extra pawl. Of course, it will be understood thatone of the pawls remains idle while the other is in use.

Formed upon one end of the member 26 is an extension 43 having arelatively large transverse opening 44 and reduced opening 45 connectingwith the larger opening, the two openings 44-45 coacting to hold a chainby one of its links. Thus means are provided for anchoring the improveddevice in position during the pulling action. A

When employed as a means for applying strain to the strand wires of afence the pointed terminals of the base frame will be engaged with thefence post represented at 14 and having a holding or guide chainconnected to the other end by utilizing the slotted projection 18-19, asmay be preferred, and connecting the guide chain to another post, tree,stake or other object, the latter not being shown as it forms no part ofthe present invention. A section of chain indicated at 46 having asuitable wire grip represented conventionally at 47 is passed around thechain wheel 31 and engaged by a plurality of its links with the lugs ofthe wheel, and the pinion 40 rotated by suitable cranks, not shown,applied to one or both of the terminals 41-42, and the pawl 24 or 25, asthe case may be, utilized to hold the strain which is thus obtained.` 1fa pull cable or rope is to be employed instead of a chain theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 5 will be employed.

It will be noted that the improved device exclusive of the pawls 24-25and the fastening devices 27-28, is formed of five parts only, andfirmly connected and supported with the pulling strains borne almostentirely by the webs of the sockets 15-16, the fastening devices 27-28being utilized to hold the member 26 only from lateral strains which arerelatively slight.

`When the device is to be employed for purposes other than applyingstrain to strand wires of fences, as for instance in drawing anautomobile, as shown in Fig. 6, the frame will be mounted upon theground and a brace 48 employed to support the frame in inclinedposition, the brace having a socket 49 to engage the curved portion 10of the frame. A hook 50 is likewise provided to engage over a portion ofthe member 26 and connected with a chain or similar device 51 which inturn is supported by an anchor stake 52 driven into the ground at anysuitable distance. If required the anchor stake may be replaced by ahook 53 attached to the chain 51 and coupled to a tree, post or a likeobject. The chain 46 is then coupled to the automobile indicatedconventionally at 54 and the latter drawn. toward the device by applyingrotary power to the pinion as before described.

By this simple means the utility of the device is materially increasedwithout change in the construction except to employ the brace 48-49 andthe guide chain 51 and its stake 52 or hook 53, as the case may be.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a supporting frame havingspaced bearings and inwardly directed pockets, a combined guard andsupport engagingat its ends in said pockets and having bearings inalinement with the bearings of said frame, and Winding' devicessupported in said bearings.

2. A device of the class described comprising a supporting frame havingspaced bearings and inwardly directed pockets, a combined guard andsupport engaging at its ends in said pockets and having bearings inalinement with the bearings of said frame, a socket for receiving a guymember, and Winding devices supported in said bearings.

3. A device of the class described compris ing a supporting frame, acombined guard and support connected at its ends to said frame, aWinding device supported by said.

frame and support and including a toothed member, means for impartingmotion to said toothed member, a brace member having a forked terminalfor engaging said device, and an anchor device connected at one 20 JOHNC. B. VOOD.

Witnesses:

C. S. WELCH,

H. R.. REATHERFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Yatents,

Washington, D. C.

